Ennis Track athletes were in superb form at Days 1–3 of the National Juvenile Track & Field Championships in Tullamore, collecting no less than 13 All-Ireland medals including 4 golds, 4 silvers and 5 bronze, plus a new Irish record in the high jump.
Our athletes in action on Day 1
- Ava Rochford was 4th in the U13 girls 60m hurdles in 10.15s and won bronze in the shot putt with a throw of 9.55m.
- Neasa Ní Ainiféin was 5th in the U14 girls’ 800m in a time of 2:24.02.
- Ailbhe Doherty rounded off a superb season with a silver in the U15 girls’ 800 m in a time of 2:18.96.
- Chisom Ugwueru was 4th in the U16 long jump with a jump of 5.01m. She also came 4th in the U16 80-m hurdles in 12.30s. Very unlucky not to come home with a medal!
- Shanice Benson was 5th in the U17 discus with a throw of 24.87m.
- Fresh from her victory last week at the All-Ireland Junior Track & Field, Jo Keane was a clear winner of the U18 women’s 800m taking gold in a time of 2:15.96.
- Patrick O’Rourke finished 10th overall in the U19 800m running 2:03.10 in his heat.
Our athletes in action on Day 2
- Ava Rochford won the high jump, her signature event, setting a new U13 Irish record in the process (see video). She first equalled the record which had stood for 13 years, before going one better to set the new record at 1.55m. Well done Ava – a well deserved win!
- Chisom Ugwueru won silver in the U16 triple jump with a jump of 10.07m.
- Jo Keane followed up her 800m gold with a silver in the U18 400m in a time of 57.39s.
- Gabriel Kehinde won bronze in the U17 100m sprint in a time of 11.34s.
- Shawn Benson won bronze in the U18 100m in 11.20s.
- Tony Odubote won gold in the U18 400m in a time of 49.63s. Fantastic stuff!
- Patrick O’Rourke won silver in the U19 men’s 3000m in a time of 8:59.91.
Our athletes in action on Day 3
- Neasa Ní Ainiféin ran a superb race finishing 5th in the U14 1500m in a time of 4:57.30.
- There was disappointment for Colin Ryan who didn’t find form on the day but was nevertheless a creditable 11th in 4:55.16 in the U14 1500m.
- Ailbhe Doherty made the final with a third place finish in her U15 200m semi, however, she opted to bow out of the final due to injury. After such a sensational season, Ailbhe certainly had nothing to prove!
- Mark Hanrahan ran a clever race and always looked good for a medal. He won bronze in his U15 1500m a time of 4:25.37.
- Gabriel Kehinde won the bronze medal in his U17 200m sprint with a time of 23.14s.
- Tony Odubote won silver in the U18 200m sprint in a time of 22.47s.
- Shawn Benson just missed out on a medal in the same final with a 4th place finish in 22.83s.
- In the U19 200m, Stephen Hogan finished 8th in 25.47s.
